Gamer's Thrombosis: A Review of Published Reports

Abstract

Background: Thrombosis, well known as a condition of the elderly, is occurring in the otherwise healthy adolescent population. Immobility is a significant risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and adolescents who play video games are immobile for extended periods of time. Some are presenting with VTE. When other risk factors such as obesity are present, the risk of VTE formation increases. We provide a review of published case reports regarding gaming and thrombosis. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO for articles published through July 2019, using the keywords "computer game thrombosis, ""computer game pulmonary embolism, ""computer game deep vein thrombosis, ""video game thrombosis, " "video game pulmonary embolism, " and "video game deep vein thrombosis. " Results: Of the 26 articles we identified, we included 12 articles in our review that report a total of 15 cases, of which 2 resulted in fatalities. Modifiable risk factors included cigarette use, being overweight, birth control use, and prolonged immobility. Anticoagulation was the principal treatment modality in patients presenting with gaming thrombosis. Conclusion: We strongly encourage screening gamers for possible VTEs if clinically warranted.

The eSports Medicine: Pre-Participation Screening and Injuries Management—An Update

“…Indeed, water retention can be a consequence of that, measured by bioelectrical impedance and reduced by wearing compression stockings [ 88 ]. Deep venous thrombosis is a rare but devastating consequence of that, as gaming has been linked to an hypercoagulability state [ 89 , 90 ]: a prompt diagnosis is crucial when a clinical suspicious raises, with compression ultrasound as a key diagnostic exam [ 91 ].…”

Health Consequences of Intensive E-Gaming: A Systematic Review

“…Chronic systemic pathological conditions of the vascular system are mostly found in PEG subjects who are younger than 35 years old as compared with those older than 35 years old [24]. Stroke is a thromboembolic event which targets large and small vessels in the brain [5,25,26] and is often associated with pre-existing chronic systemic conditions such as general inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases, and can depend on previous thrombosis [24,27]. Lower limb thrombosis is quite common in Esports players, to the point of minting the term "e-thrombosis" [27].…”

“…Stroke is a thromboembolic event which targets large and small vessels in the brain [5,25,26] and is often associated with pre-existing chronic systemic conditions such as general inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases, and can depend on previous thrombosis [24,27]. Lower limb thrombosis is quite common in Esports players, to the point of minting the term "e-thrombosis" [27]. Thrombosis, however, can also be fatal in young subjects [28].…”

Pediatric stroke associated with a sedentary lifestyle during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic: a case report on a 17-year-old

“…A lack of deep vein thrombosis on our workup does not exclude venous thromboembolism; studies have shown less than 50% of patients with proven pulmonary embolism have deep vein thrombosis [ 10 ], suggesting that a source of embolism is often not found. Among the teenagers, sedentary lifestyle, especially when associated with video gaming, has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for venous thromboembolism and reported in multiple case reports [ 11 , 12 ]. Our case demonstrates that the pandemic has had far-reaching effects, possibly leading to an increased stroke risk among the young due to a sedentary lifestyle.…”